And then, a month later.
Sephiel’s “100 people a day” strategy was a huge success.
<Can you believe such a fun place exists!>
<It was heaven there!>
The first hundred visitors were influential figures from all walks of life.
They returned to the capital and breathlessly boasted to each other about what they had seen.
For the first ten days, only VIPs were allowed in. For the next ten, tickets were sold to one hundred people per day.
For the next ten days, public entry was permitted.
The first day of general admission.
Even though they couldn’t use the gate, people formed a massive crowd at the entrance after riding carriages for six or seven hours.
The result was a great success.
“The train ride was really fun!”
“What time is dinner at the hotel again?”
“They say there are performances even in the forest?”
Everywhere in Raccoon Land, people were swarming.
People who said that had such happy faces, as if they were in heaven.
Beyond the gate, through the newly created entrance, carriages and horses poured in.
The colorful magic-stone train Sephiel had envisioned was now running, and charming wooden snack houses had been built all around.
The hotel attached to the amusement park was already fully booked for the next six months.
“Hmph. What do you think, little raccoon? Just as you advised, I made sure that tickets could only be purchased in person.”
“Yeah! Awesome! It has to be perfect!”
“The admission tickets must be very expensive. There must be many nobles among the customers. Why did you do something like that?”
“Umm… that’s because….”
Sephiel put her finger under her chin and spoke brightly.
“It’s simple, Gyandpa.”
“Simple?”
“Yeah.”
Sephiel nodded and said.
“People are like this. The harder it is to get something, the more precious it is. They think it’s pretty. That’s what adults are like!”
Cherno nodded in agreement.
“The harder something is to obtain, the more it is treasured. That’s what you mean.”
“Yup, exactly! Later on, when they can buy it more easily, lift the restrictions too.”
“Yes, balance is key. Loosening conditions later also stimulate demand. Ha, you’re right about everything.”
“Hehe.”
“What a smart kid. I have a feeling this little raccoon of mine will give me lots of advice about humans from now on. Don’t you think so?”
“Yup! I like playing with Gyandpa. Let’s keep doing fun mercvhant games together, promise!”
Sephiel answered innocently, and Cherno nodded.
“Yes. For the rest of my life here, I will protect you.”
He whispered that softly.
Sephiel didn’t hear him—she was too busy looking around.
Then she looked at Cherno’s face.
“Gyandpa, do you like this world?”
“Of course.”
Sephiel was surprised by how casually Cherno answered.
“You said this amusement park was like paradise to you, right?”
“Yeah. That’s right.” Sephiel answered.
A place full of shimmering dreams, a place to forget everyday life.
That’s what an amusement park is—for both children and adults.
“Let me put it this way. My life in this world feels like an amusement park too.”
“…….”
“I can’t stand the joy of meeting a kid like you and accomplishing things like this every day.”
Sephiel flinched.
‘Then why are you leaving this world?’
As far as Sephiel knew, about ten years later, the Remdragon family would leave the human world.
They would head for the true paradise filled only with happiness—the realm of the gods.
‘Could it be…’
Sephiel bit her lip.
“Gyandpa, do you want to stay here?”
“If time and circumstances allow.”
Cherno said casually, not noticing Sephiel’s strange expression.
‘Could there be another reason why they’re leaving this world?’
At that moment, loud music filled the amusement park.
“Look, just like you suggested, I’ve formed a parade team. Let’s go watch. Beautiful clowns and fairies in costumes are dancing.”
Cherno said affectionately.
Sephiel pushed aside the questions that had welled up inside and answered with a nod.
“But Gyandpa, what’s this song?”
Sephiel tilted her head as she heard the song coming through the magic tool loudspeaker during the parade.
<Our baby raccoon is white and cute. She dances joyfully everywhere. Our baby raccoon is smart too. Our baby raccoon is adorable….>
“Hmm. Marie composed it. She’s quite talented in music.”
“…….”
“There are a few more songs. Want to hear them?”
“No, thank you…”
Sephiel sometimes found the servants a little odd.
‘What kind of embarrassing lyrics are these?!’
And now, she wondered if she and the raccoon character had truly become one.
Sephiel felt like the nickname Erga gave her was starting to threaten her identity.
Well, aside from that, today was practically the realization of her dream from her past life.
Another exciting day has come to an end.
* * *
Another month later, Sephiel was in the office of Grand Duke Cherno.
Cherno made a small chair for Sephiel.
A chair of gold and red silk, with safety straps just like any child’s chair.
‘I wonder how much revenue we made.’
Sephiel’s heart pounded with anticipation.
‘If we averaged 5,000 visitors a day, that’d be a big success.’
Honestly, Sephiel had prepared herself for low revenue in the first month due to slow word of mouth.
Cherno cleared his throat.
“Ahem, Noel. Let’s finish this briefing before Baby Raccoon’s nap time.”
“Yes.”
Noel answered solemnly, holding a report.
“So, did it go well?”
Sephiel asked while bouncing in place, unable to hide her curiosity.
“Five thousand. That’s a huge number. Did that many people really come?”
Her heart pounded with anticipation.
This was Sephiel’s first real project. If they didn’t reach the 5,000 mark, Cherno might be disappointed in her abilities.
“No. We didn’t reach an average of 5,000 visitors per day.”
“Then… was it 4,000?”
Sephiel’s eyebrows drooped.
“No.”
“2,000?”
“No.”
“Say it quickly.”
Cherno said, unable to wait any longer.
“20,000.”
“..…”
Sephiel and Cherno stared at each other.
“An average of 20,000 people came each day. And it was just the first month.”
“Wait… just from within the Kingdom Union?”
Sephiel blinked.
‘The Kingdom Union was a big country, sure, but still…’
“People are pouring in from foreign countries too. And now, there’s a flood of inquiries from the Eastern Continent asking if they can be granted tourist access next month.”
“Then…..”
“Yes. This isn’t just a big hit. It’s a massive, complete… total success.”
Sephiel and Cherno looked at each other, then high-fived without needing to say a word.
“Hmph, Gyandpa, you did great.”
“It’s all thanks to you, my little raccoon.”
Noel shyly muttered, “I helped too…”
He touched Sephiel’s small hand and muttered, “The hand of the wise baby.….”
“You’re amazing, really. Huh? You were right. People are the heart of any business. With someone like you around, how could things not go well?”
Sephiel smiled brightly.
“Please continue to take care of me. Our company’s only baby advisor,” Cherno said.
“When you grow up, I promise I won’t let you down.”
“Yeah. And if we have extra money, don’t just donate it to society—share some with me too.”
Sephiel added, half-joking, half-serious.
‘Even when I grow up, I still have to eat three meals a day, buy new clothes, and sometimes buy chocolate.’
‘Maybe someday, ten or so years from now… By then, grandpa Cherno might be gone from this world.’
‘He’ll probably close the company.’
Maybe then she could get a nice cut of the leftovers. Enough to live comfortably.
‘After all, I’ll need money to settle far away from Allegro, in some foreign land.’
Sephiel smirked at the thought.
“Oh, come on. I was going to give it all to you eventually. Ha! You greedy little raccoon. Like a baby raccoon trying to hoard nuts.”
Cherno said with a hearty laugh.
Sephiel laughed along with him.
“Gyandpa. Just trust me.”
She spotted a magazine on the table.
<Kingdom Union Trade Association Rankings>
It was the most famous publication in the Kingdom Union called <Kingdom Current Affairs>.
‘Ah. The latest rankings announced by the Information Guild are posted.’
1st – Allegro Trading Company (Directly under Allegro Royalty)
2nd – Free Trade Company (Run by the Mayor of Free City)
…
14th – Golden Dragon Trading Company (Private)
Sephiel opened it and showed them.
“Oh, right. This is also a huge achievement.”
Noel said after seeing the magazine.
‘Look. Our trading company wasn’t even in the rankings before. But now, thanks to our success, we’re 14th.”
“Yeah.”
Sephiel nodded.
“Gyandpa, you wanna be ranked higher?”
“Of course.”
Cherno nodded seriously.
‘Yeah. His goal is probably to reach number one.’
Sephiel nodded slightly.
“Gyandpa. I’ll raise this ranking up.”
‘If possible, enough to push these guys away.’
Sephiel smirked at the number one spot.
‘If I do it right, I might even mess with Allegro a bit and win over the landlords too.’
So for Sephiel, there was nothing but benefit in all this.
“Oh my, you’re a smart kid. Thanks to you, this is the most fun I’ve had in hundreds of years.”
The warm pats on the head and storm of praise from her loving grandfather were just a bonus.
* * *
In that way, <Raccoon Land>, filled with Sepiel’s dreams, became a huge hit.
<The Golden Dragon’s Executive, ‘Noel’, Reveals the Secret to Their Success.>
[The secret to the amusement park’s success is that the raccoon symbol is just too cute. And the child who inspired the raccoon? Even cuter. Seriously, that kid is incredible. Unbelievably cute]
After reading the newspaper article, Morohan threw the newspaper away.
These days, even hearing the words “raccoon” or “amusement” made his blood boil.
“Damn it. Don’t let me see a newspaper with an article like this.”
“I’m sorry, sir!”
Morohan clutched his pounding head.
“Aaah. What have I done? I should never have granted gate access so easily. I could’ve at least charged them a fee. No, I should’ve interfered during construction—caused legal problems, anything…Damn it. I should’ve gotten something out of it!”
No—he could’ve disrupted their plans and built his own park instead.
Greedy Morohan was practically sick with jealousy.
‘Those bastards tricked me with their smooth talk. Fooled me with just a little bit of money!’
He seemed to forget how happy he had been collecting that money. His face flushed red with rage.
He even started to think they had stolen from him.
‘I won’t forget this. That company leader isn’t ordinary. It’s like they knew me and tricked me from the start.’
Morohan thought, stroking his swollen fingers.
‘I can’t just leave it alone. I have to keep an eye on that company.’
* * *
